The lender who actually answers - and gets it closed. From first-time buyers to refinances across the Capital Region, Brian Marchand makes the mortgage the easy part.
“Saratoga has a low rate and a high bill, which surprises people. And if you're looking at a downtown condo, that's a financing question before it's a lifestyle one.”
Brian MarchandSr. Loan Consultant · NMLS #481563
Program guidelines on this page last verified . Guidelines, limits and program terms change — verified figures are current as of that date, not a commitment to lend.
Buying or refinancing a home in Saratoga Springs shouldn't mean chasing down a lender who never calls back. Brian Marchand has spent years helping buyers across Saratoga County and the wider Capital Region - from first-time buyers to homeowners refinancing.
What Saratoga Springs clients say again and again is simple: he answers. Text him on a Saturday, call him after hours, ask the "silly" first-timer question - you'll get a real answer, quickly, in plain English.
And when a file is tricky, that's exactly when Brian does his best work. Second opinions welcome.
Both are true, and buyers conflate them constantly.
Conventional financing depends on the project, not just the unit. Too much commercial space, too many rentals, one owner holding too many units, or thin reserves makes a project non-warrantable - and conventional financing simply isn't available. Vet the building before you fall for the kitchen.
Occupancy classification drives your down payment and pricing, and projected rental income generally can't be used to qualify on a second home. If summer rental revenue is central to the plan, the file needs a different structure from the start.
The region’s premier destination market - thoroughbred racing, Broadway shopping, SPAC and a year-round energy that keeps values among the highest in the area. Inventory moves fast and often above ask.
Neighborhoods & areas: East Side · West Side · Geyser Crest · Woodlawn Park
Population, home value and income are U.S. Census / ACS estimates. Condo warrantability is determined by each project and lender review, not by the city. For general reference only.
The school districts, the programs that can shrink your out-of-pocket, and the details worth handling before you make an offer.
The city is served by the Saratoga Springs City School District, with surrounding addresses falling into Ballston Spa, Schuylerville or Shenendehowa.
Brian works with 3% & 5%-down conventional, FHA (3.5% down), zero-down VA & USDA (rural parts of Saratoga County qualify for USDA), and SONYMA first-time-buyer loans with down-payment assistance. First-time buyer? He'll line up every credit you're eligible for.
The region's premium market, where jumbo, second-home and condo underwriting all come into play.
Saratoga Springs runs from genuinely historic Victorians in the city core to post-war neighborhoods to newer construction and extensive condo and townhome development. Values here sit well above the regional median, which changes which loan products are in play.
Above the conforming loan limit the file becomes a jumbo underwrite: more reserves, tighter credit and income documentation, and often a different appraisal process. On the higher end of this market that threshold comes up regularly, and it is worth knowing before you shop rather than after you offer.
Saratoga draws second-home buyers, and the occupancy classification decides your down payment and pricing. A second home for personal use is one product; a property you intend to rent, including during track season, is another. Lenders treat misstated occupancy as a serious matter, so state the plan up front.
How hard the project gets examined depends on your down payment and occupancy. A primary residence with enough down can sometimes use a limited review; an investment purchase or a low-down-payment file triggers a full review of the association's budget, reserves, litigation and owner-occupancy ratio. The identical unit can pass for one buyer and fail for the next.
Brian and his team were awesome to work with and really helped me with a pretty complicated estate buyout process. Can't recommend them enough!
I'm happy to recommend Brian to anyone seeking an expert. We've worked with him a few times over the years and have been highly satisfied with his knowledge and responsiveness.
Buying a home means working with several parties before the keys are in your hand. Brian was extremely reliable and easy to work with - real peace of mind.
Brian was incredible! Always knowledgeable and very responsive. I will work with him for any future transactions that I can!
Verified reviews from Google, Zillow, Facebook & Experience.com · See all 169 reviews →
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Brian Marchand · Sr. Loan Consultant, New American Funding · NMLS #481563
Works on mortgages for buyers and homeowners in Saratoga Springs and the Capital Region. Licensed in New York State. New American Funding, NMLS #6606 · 18 Computer Dr E, Suite 103, Albany, NY 12205.